Suit Romps, Photoshoots and the city.

[Buckeye]

For anyone who has hosted/organized a suit romp, photoshoot or any other public facing event, did you contact the park/location and ask for permission or was it more of a guerilla style event where we just showed up without an explicit ‘yes’ from the park board or other entity?

I ask as I’m trying to set up a fall romp/photoshoot this year and in trying to be thourough, contacted the park & rec department who would require us to have a special use permit,which I don’t want to pay for. The local police on the other have has no issues with my plans.

[Ringer]

I’ve *tried* to contact people for permission in the past, and I think it depends on where you’re planning to go. From what I’ve heard the Three Rivers Park District is a little more uptight about this.

I’ve only ever organized romps in the Mill Ruins / Downtown Minneapolis areas, and in both cases you’re not really occupying a given space for a long period of time so there’s no central authority (outside of the police, who’ve always been very accepting) to really contact. As long as the group is well-behaved and remains on public property (unless otherwise prompted) you probably don’t have much to worry about.

With a proper park things might be a little different, and in those cases I’d recommend avoiding playgrounds just because that’s where people tend to be the most antsy and/or protective.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 10 months ago by Ringer.

[Buckeye]

Ramsey County P&R gave me the you need a permit, I replied to see if there’s anything we can clear up that would make it so we don’t need one.

I’m also trying Three Rivers but based on your post I’m not going to hold my breath.

I have a few other parks I’m looking at. One of which, I don’t think the police would mind. https://www.mnfurs.org/forums/topic/fall-fursuit-photoshootromp/#post-33583

[Drake M.]

In my own experiences it’s always good to converse with the parks staff and let them know what is going on.  This way, if they are okay with it, can make other staff aware as well as any park patrol that regularly visits.

Usually photography is fine as I’ve had a main photographer in my past fursuit romps…Only time it may possibly become a problem is if there are multiple taking video or setting up equipment in certain areas.

If approached during the event by park staff or any park authorities, just be friendly and explain what is going on and who you have spoken to about it.

This is my input outside of our PM’s.  🙂

~ Drake M.

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[Ringer]

Buckeye wrote:

Ramsey County P&R gave me the you need a permit, I replied to see if there’s anything we can clear up that would make it so we don’t need one.

Ah, that’s the other thing I meant to respond to. Often the default park response is to say that you need a permit, because they hear “I have a group who wants to have an event” and in most cases assume you want to reserve space and/or are doing something for commercial purposes. Explaining to them that this is an entirely recreational activity and you’re not looking to reserve any facilities and instead will just be wandering around in the park may help.

[Shoku]

Maybe it’s in the wording then?  Instead of lead with “I have an event” I might go with “We’d like to do a costume group photo shoot,” if we’re talking about photo-centric events that is.  If we start talking fursuit games and the like then yeah I’d probably go the “event” route.

"The problem is not that there are too many idiots in the world, the problem is the distribution of lightning."
- Mark Twain

[Buckeye]

Thanks for the feedback. I ended up getting an email from Ramsey County basically saying ‘we don’t know if you need a permit until you fill out the application’.  I filled out the form and wrote a different description of what we plan to do based on what you all said. Hopefully we’ll get approval, if not I have fallbacks.

[Drake M.]

Buckeye wrote:

I filled out the form and wrote a different description of what we plan to do based on what you all said. Hopefully we’ll get approval, if not I have fallbacks.

Keep us posted on this and good work so far in your efforts, Buckeye!

~ Drake M.

T H €  B | Z   F [] X

MNFurs Photography Department - In being part of Photography, we are here to assist in taking photos at MNFurs-sanctioned events.  Please email [email protected] with questions in how we can help.

MNFurs Merchandise Department -  Working together to get you fun organization-branded merchandise, have an idea?  Email us [email protected] and we will assist you.

MNFurs ~ 501(c3) Non-Profit Organization

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